Operation (cont’d)
21
Static electricity and filling the gasoline tank:
Static electricity can initiate from ungrounded gasoline tanks or containers, from flowing
gasoline, and from persons carrying a static electric charge
Static electricity can explosively ignite gasoline vapors that are present during the fueling process,
resulting in serious burns to nearby persons. To avoid static electricity while fueling, certain steps
must be followed before and during the fueling process in order to minimize and safely dissipate
static charge build-up:
•
Touch a grounded metal object before starting
. Always dissipate static charge from your
body before beginning the fueling process by touching a grounded metal object at a safe
distance away from fuel sources.
•
Use a portable container to fill tank
. Never fill the generator’s gas tank directly from the
fuel pump – the generator’s tank is not grounded and the high velocity flow of gasoline from a
fuel pump can cause static electric build-up. Use an approved portable container to transfer
gasoline to the generator’s tank.
•
Fill container on the ground.
Never fill the portable gas container while it is sitting inside a
vehicle, trailer, trunk, or pick-up truck bed. ALWAYS place container on the ground to be
filled.
•
Keep nozzle in contact with container
. Keep nozzle in contact with the portable container at
all times while filling. Manually control the flow of gasoline; do NOT use the nozzle’s lock-
open device.
•
Use a portable container made of metal or conductive plastic.
It will dissipate charge to
ground more readily.
About static electricity and fueling
Many common objects can accumulate and retain a static electric charge. Objects made of non-conductive
materials (e.g. plastics) easily accumulate and retain static electric charge, as can objects made of conductive
material (e.g. metal, water) if they are not electrically grounded. The static electric charge on an object, such
as a human body or plastic fuel tank/container, can reach as high as several thousand volts!
A static electric spark can be generated if the static electric charge stored on an object “jumps” to another,
less charged object. Such a spark can ignite invisible gasoline vapors that are present during fueling
situations.
Typical sources of static electric hazards during fueling
The following objects can accumulate a static electric charge and cause an ignition spark in typical fueling
situations:
1) Ungrounded
tanks/containers. Any ungrounded fuel tank or container can accumulate a static electric
charge as a result of contact with other objects or friction during transportation. This static electricity
can discharge as a spark to the grounded gasoline dispenser nozzle, as the nozzle is first brought close to
the tank/container at the beginning of the fueling process.
2) Flowing
gasoline. Most people are not aware that gasoline accumulates static electric charge while
flowing through a hose or pipe. This charge then transfers to and accumulates in the gas tank or container
that is being filled. The total amount of charge accumulation depends on the amount of gas pumped into
the container, the speed with which it is pumped, and whether or not the tank/container is grounded. If
sufficient static electric charge accumulates in the fuel tank or container during the fueling process, the
tank/container may discharge a spark to the grounded gasoline dispenser nozzle.
3) Persons. A person dispensing the gasoline can carry a static electric charge on their body, typically
resulting from contact with their car seat or electronics. The static electricity can discharge as a spark
between that person’s hand and either the grounded dispenser nozzle or the fuel tank opening.
